Rider Raiders Baseball Hall of Fame

(Established 2011)

Newman Young (Coach)

Coach Young was the first Baseball Coach in Rider History.

He coached the Raiders from 1963-67. The Raiders won

the Zone Championship in 1967.

Mr. Young later became Principal at Rider High School. After leaving Rider he became Superintendent at Midway ISD and Seymour ISD. Mr. Young in retirement has written two books, Circle the Wagonsand Saddle in the Wind. Coach Young attended the Dinner with his wife and expressed his deep appreciation for this honor. Coach Young was remembered by those who played for him as the epitome of Dignity and Class.

Don Hartman (Coach)

Head Coach from 1968-69. He set the foundation for the Rider's

first District Championship in 1970. He taught and coached

from 1968-69. He set the foundation for the Rider's first District Championship in 1970. He taught and coached at Rider High School for 28 years,longer than any other coach in Rider history. Coach Hartman died in 1994.The Don Hartman Memorial Baseball Award was started in 1995, it honors the Senior baseball player(s) who demonstrates heart, hard work and leadership through the course of their baseball career at Rider High School. Coach Hartmanrepresented all 3 of those qualities as a teacher, coach and mentor.

Coach Hartman's son Chris lettered 3 years in baseball at Rider

and was an assistant coach on the 2005 State Semi-finalist Team. Mr. Hartman is currently the Social Studies Department Head at Rider High School.

Nicky Hollars (Player/Coach)

Played for Rider High School from 1967-69 where he was an

All-District selection in 1969.

Coach Hollars served as Head Coach from 82-84 and an Assistant Coach from 87-90. Coach Hollars remained a loyal supporter to Rider Baseball until his untimely death in 2005.

2006 the Rider Baseball Team Put a plaque in honor of Coach Hollars in the 3rd Base dugout honoring his contributions

to Rider Baseball. 2008 The Hollars/Gill Hustle Award was

established to recognize the player who most exemplified hustle

on and off the field in honor of Coach Hollars and his teammate

Pete Gill.

Pete Gill (Player/Coach)

Played at Rider High School from 1967-69. Two time

All-District Pitcher. Played College Baseball at Hill JC, Hardin

Simmons and Cameron University. He was Drafted by

the Texas Rangers. Coach Gill was a Rider Assistant Coach (Pitching from 1996-2005 and coached 6 All-State Pitchers during that Coach Gill retired in 2005 but came back to Coach at Hirschi High School for 4 years. He retired again in 2010. Coach Gill has of Coach Gill and in memory of his teammate Nicky Hollars (1967-69) Mr. Gill played under Coach Don Hartman their Coach Gill was recognized by the 2008 Team with3rd Base Dugout at Pride Field honoring his contributions Coach) time. remained close to the Rider program and its Coaches and players.In 2008 The Hollars/Gill Hustle Award was established to recognize the player who most exemplified hustle on and off the field in honor Both Mr. Hollars and senior year in 1969. a plaque in the to the Rider Baseball program.

Glen Tackitt (Player)

Played for Rider High School from 1969-71. Mr. Tackitt was an

All-District pitcher in 1970 & 71.

He was also Rider's first All-State Pitcher in 1971. He led Rider to its first two District Championships in 1970 & 71. Mr. Tackitt was drafted in the 3rd round in MLB amateur draft in 1971 by the Montreal Expos. Mr. Tackitt can still be found in the baseball record books at Rider High School. Mr. Tackitt is considered one of Rider High School and WFISD best baseball players in its history.

Byron Jackson (Player)

Played for Rider from 1975-78. Mr. Jackson was an

All-District Player in 1977-78. Mr. Jackson was known as one

of the best pitchers to come through Rider High School. He

was part of a District Championship team in 1975. Mr.

Jackson still holds several Rider pitching records. Mr. Jackson was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 13th Round in 1978. Mr. Jackson is a successful businessman in the Wichita Falls area.

Kerry Hargrove (Coach)

Coach Hargrove was Head Coach at Rider High School from

1998 - 2006. He was an assistant coach from 1994-97. Coach

Hargrove is the all-time winningest baseball Coach at Rider High

School and WFISD History. He was 216-99-2 at Rider High School.

He led Rider High School to 5 District Championships and the playoffs

8 out of 9 years, Including 3 straight Regional Finals(2004-06) and

its first State tournament(2005). He has coached in more baseball playoff

games (60) and more playoff wins (38) than any other baseball coach in the WFISD history. He was named District Coach of the Year 5 times. Coach Hargrove was recognized by the 2008 Team with a plaque in the 3rd Base Dugout at Pride Field honoring his contributions to theRider Baseball program.Coach Hargrove is one of the greatest coaches in the WFISD history and most especially Rider History.

Billy Watts (Player)

Mr. Billy Watts was Rider’s first four year baseball lettermen. He is one of the true pioneers of Rider Baseball. He was on the first four Rider Baseball Teams. Mr. Watts was an All-District performer and a standout performer for the Raiders. He played for Hall of Fame members Coach Newman Young and Coach Charles Byars. In 1964 Mr. Watts was the teams Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. In 1966 he was selected as the Team Offensive Player of the Year by Coach Young. Mr. Watts owned numerous records upon his graduation and is one the Rider Greats in its baseball history.

Kevin Jarrett (Player)

Mr. Jarrett was a member on the first three Rider Raider Baseball Teams from 1963-65. He played for fellow Hall of Fame members Newman Young and Captain Charles Byars. He was an All-District player for the Raiders and later played basketball at MidwesternStateUniversity. He was chosen by Coach Young as being the Team Pitcher of the Year in 1963, ‘64 and ‘65. The Team Offensive Player of the Year in 1963 and the Team MVP in 1963 and 1965. Mr. Jarrett still sits prominently in the Raider Record book.He 2nd in Career ERA at Rider with a 0.90 ERA from 1963-65. His 1.00 ERA (min. of 50IP) in 1965 still is the 6th best in Raider History. In 1965, Mr. Jarrett had 16 strikeouts in 10 innings ranks 3rd all-time for strikeouts in an extra-inning game. There is a record that Mr. Jarrett still owns today and that is innings pitched in a single game. In 1965, he pitched 12 innings in one game against IrvingHigh School. Mr. Jarrett was a true pioneer of Rider Baseball.

Captain Charles Byars (Coach)

Captain Charles Byars was the first assistant coach for the Rider Raiders. Coach Byars was an inspirational leader for the early Raider Teams. He was part of the Raiders first playoff appearance in 1967. Captain Byars volunteered his time and effort to the Rider Baseball program which has become the Raider way over recent years for many former Raider assistant baseball coaches. The Rider Hall of Fame selection committee wanted to honor Captain Byars service with induction to the Rider Baseball Hall of Fame for going above and beyond the call of duty for the Rider Baseball program. An honor that is well deserved.

Lynn Donart (Player/Coach)

Mr. Lynn Donart was a standout player in the mid 1970’s for the Rider Baseball Team. He was a member of the 1975District Championship Team. He was an All-District performer for the Raiders his Junior and Senior year. In 1986 he became the Eighth Head Baseball Coach at RiderHigh School. His 1986 and 1987 team still holds many single game offensive records. Most runs in a game (23 vs. Graham in ‘86 and ’87) and most Homeruns in a game (6 vs. Graham in ’87). The ‘87 team also had the records for hits in a game (19 vs. Graham in ’87) but was tied once and overtaken by the2011 State Champion Raiders. Coach Donart was remembered by his players as being a team first coach. Many of his former players went to pursue Coaching and teaching careers including Greg Darden, Jayson Jaynes, Chris Hartman, Brett Thompson, Chris Heskett and current Head Coach Scot Green.

Lance Stampfli (Player)

Mr. Lance Stampfli was one of the premier players for the Raiders in the 1980’s. He was a four year lettermen at RiderHigh School from 1980-1983. He was the Team MVP and the Offensive MVP for the 1982 and 1983 baseball team. He was named to the All-District Team his last two years as an outfielder. He played his last two years under the late Coach, Nicky Hollars, a 2011 Hall of Fame inductee. At the end of his playing career at Rider, he went and had a successful collegiate career at HardinSimmonsUniversity. Mr. Stampfli is considered by many Raiders as one of the best outfielders to have played at RiderHigh School.

Steve Stone (Coach)

Steve Stone became the 10th Head Baseball Coach at RiderHigh School 1991-97. He took

over a program that had not won a District Championship or been in the playoffs since 1975. In

1994 The Rider Baseball Team led by Coach Stone returned to the playoffs for the first time in 19

years. In 1995 they won their first District title in 20 years and their first playoff series win ever as

they made it to the Regional Quarter-finals. Also under the guidance of Coach Stone, Rider had

its first All-State player since 1971 and second overall in 1995 with the selection of Pat Leach as

a Pitcher. When Coach Stone left Rider at the end of the 1997 season he was the winningest

Coach in Rider History and the first coach at Rider to win 100 games (110-73). As the Coach at

Rider Coach Stone brought in able assistance to help turn the program around such as 2011

Coheley and current Rider Coach Scot Green. As Coaches and Players will attest Coach Steve

Stone laid the foundation for success at RiderHigh School.

Steve Fancher(Player 1972-75)

Steve Fancher was an two time All-District Player for the Riders during his playing days at RiderHigh School. In 1974 he was an All-District SS with a BA of .339. In 1975 he was instrumental in leading the Raiders to the District Championship as an All-District 3B with a .301 BA. He led both teams in HR's and stolen bases. After High School he played collegiately at MidwesternStateUniversity all four years. In 1981, Mr. Fancher began his coaching career, where as an assistant Girls Basketball coach he was part of 5 State Championships at Levelland H.S. He later became the Head Girls Basketball Coach and won 390 games. Coach Fancher retired from public education in 2011. He is now currently coaching at JohnPaulIIHigh School in Plano, Tx. (#2 ranked team in the state)

Ricky Brown (Player 1975-78)

Ricky Brown was a two-time All-District Baseball performer at Rider.

He was on the 1975 District Championship Team. He led the Raiders in hitting and was the Offensive Player of the Year for the Raiders in 1978. Mr. Brown was a 4 year letter winner for the Raiders and went on to play for Midwestern State University's Baseball program. He has been a part Rider baseball program for over 30 years in many different capacities. He was instrumental in helping create the Rider Baseball Alumni Game in 1997 and serving as the Alumni's Head Coach for several years. He also was important in helping set up the Raider Baseball Golf tournament and with the enclosure of the batting cages. Ricky's son Connor was an All-District Designated Hitter for the 2010 State-semifinalist Rider Raiders. Mr. Brown has had a positive impact not only as a tremendous player for Rider but also in the development of its Rich tradition it enjoys today. The Rider Baseball Family is honored to have Mr. Brown in its Baseball Hall of Fame.

Jeff Young (Player 1979-82)

Jeff Young was an outstanding Pitcher for the Rider Raiders in the early 80's. He was a four year letter winner for the Raiders and was named All-District his Jr. and Sr. year. He was the Pitcher of the Year for the Raiders in 1980, 1981 and 82. His Sr. Year he had a .352 BA and a 1.47 ERA in 67 IP with 87 Strikeouts. Mr. Young still holds record for number of strikeouts in an extra inning Game with 18 strikeouts against Hirschi in 1982. He also ranks 3rd for complete games in a career with 18. Mr. Young was highly respected by his teammates and Coaches at Rider. Mr. Young is considered one of the best arms to ever come out of Rider High School. The Rider Baseball Family is honored to have Mr. Young in its Baseball Hall of Fame.

Kyle Apperson (Player 1984-86)

Kyle Apperson was an outstanding all-around player for the Raiders during the Mid 80's. Mr. Apperson was a standout Tennis player at Rider his Freshmen year but chose his Sophomore year to play Baseball. Mr. Apperson was an All-District Player his Jr. and Sr. years playing shortstop. He was also the Team Pitcher of the Year in 1985 and the Team Offensive MVP in 1986. He was the Team MVP in both 1985 and 1986. In 1986 Mr. Apperson set the city and school record for Batting Average with at least 60 AB hitting .606. A record that still exist today. After graduating from Rider, Mr. Apperson went and played baseball at TexasWesleyanUniversity. Today Coach Apperson is a standout Teacher and Tennis Coach at RiderHigh School. Under his leadership the Rider Tennis Team has qualified for the State Tournament 4 out of the last 7 years. As a Teacher he has been nominated for Teacher of the Year 3 times in the last 3 years. Coach Apperson known for his devotion to his students and all sports at RiderHigh School. The Rider Baseball family is honored with his well deserved place in its Hall of Fame.

Bryan Edgemon

(Player 1989-92)

Bryan Edgemon was one of the premier pitchers to ever come out of Rider High School and Wichita Falls. A left-handed pitcher, Mr. Edgemon was a 3 year starter for the Raiders and was an All-District Pitcher all of those years. He was named the Team Pitcher of the Year in '89, '90 & '91.Mr. Edgemon helped transform the Rider Baseball program under Hall of Fame Coaches Steve Stone and Assistant coach Kerry Hargrove. His presence made Rider a playoff contender year in and year out. He was also the 2nd member and only Raider to have his numbered retired with the Burkburnett Blacksox Summer Baseball program. After graduating from Rider Mr. Edgemon went and played

collegiately at Baylor University and Oklahoma State University. Mr. Edgemon is considered one of the best arms to ever come out of Rider High School and one of its most dominating players. The Rider Baseball Family is honored to have Mr. Edgemon in its Baseball Hall of Fame.